A Boeing 747 has brought 17 American evacuees from a cruise ship connected to a serious hantavirus outbreak to Nebraska. Officials are now focused on evaluating the extent of potential illness spread.
The flight landed in Omaha shortly before 2:30 a.m. on Monday, completing a journey that lasted more than nine hours from Tenerife, Spain. The passengers were on the MV Hondius, which had set sail from Argentina on April 1, carrying around 149 individuals from 23 different countries.
The outbreak’s initial signs emerged on April 6, when a Dutch passenger fell ill. Tragically, he passed away five days later. His body was removed on April 24 on St. Helena, where his wife also disembarked, later succumbing to illness in South Africa.
Three total deaths linked to this outbreak have been reported, including those of the Dutch man, his wife, and a German woman who died aboard the ship on May 2. Investigators suspect the outbreak could trace back to exposures during a birdwatching tour at an Argentine landfill, where contact with infected rodents likely occurred.
By the time the ship reached Spain, many passengers had already disembarked, including 29 who left prior to public confirmation of the outbreak. Among them were seven Americans who have returned to various states, including Arizona, California, Georgia, Texas, Virginia, and New Jersey, and are now under health monitoring.
The contingent that arrived in Nebraska were not part of that earlier group. They were directed to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, known for its federally funded quarantine facility, for detailed screening and observation.
Health officials indicated that one American passenger has tested positive for hantavirus, although he is not exhibiting symptoms. Another individual reported mild symptoms.
Upon landing, one person was taken to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit for further evaluation, while the others were sent to the National Quarantine Unit for ongoing assessment.
According to Kayla Thomas, a spokesperson for Nebraska Medicine, “The passenger who is going to the Biocontainment Unit tested positive for the virus but does not have symptoms.” Passengers were escorted from Eppley Airfield to buses and transported away from the airport under careful supervision.
Travel blogger Jake Rosmarin, a passenger on the flight, shared a positive update, stating he was “okay and feeling well.” He described his experience on the repatriation flight as smooth and expressed gratitude toward the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Omaha for their support.
The CDC expressed hopes that the time spent in Nebraska might be limited. As one official noted, “The overall monitoring period will be 42 days, but this is not necessarily all happening in Nebraska,” emphasizing collaboration with passengers regarding their comfort levels.
Hantavirus transmission typically occurs through inhalation of particles from contaminated rodent droppings and is not easily spread between individuals. Nonetheless, the Andes strain related to this outbreak poses concerns as it has rare instances of person-to-person transmission.
17 American passengers who evacuated the hantavirus-hit cruise ship are expected to land in Omaha overnight Monday. One person has tested positive and is not experiencing symptoms. ABC reports another passenger has mild symptoms. pic.twitter.com/FwyqzQSZhp
— KETV NewsWatch 7 (@KETV) May 11, 2026
The World Health Organization is working to ease public fears, asserting that the overall risk remains low for the general populace. “This is not another COVID. And the risk to the public is low. So they shouldn’t be scared, and they shouldn’t panic,” stated WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove confirmed that this was the first recorded hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship and advised stringent monitoring for those exposed. She recommended frequent health checks, whether at home or in specialized facilities.
RELATED: Passengers Disembark From Hantavirus-Infected Cruise Ship
In Spain, health teams facilitated safe disembarkation from the cruise ship to the shore in Tenerife, adhering to rigorous protocols. Evacuations are continuing, with further repatriation flights set for other nationalities.
International health monitoring has extended beyond the vessel, with four asymptomatic Canadian passengers returning to British Columbia under strict quarantine orders. Additionally, health officials have identified other individuals across Canada who may have been in contact with infected persons during travel.
RELATED: NEW: Officials Identify Patient Zero In Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak
Symptoms may take one to eight weeks to manifest, complicating exposure tracking across various countries. Health authorities urge those affected and their contacts to promptly report any fevers, chills, or muscle pains.
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